The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-06-22

| oohicueraJe Dattlc nag OF the 2Itl
South Carolina regiment, captured by
Private L. G. Anderson, Company "a,
18th Massachusetts battalion.
South Carolina State fIug, no history
Confederate battle flag, captured by
Gen. Shcridan's forces September IS
1864, from Sth South Carolina Infantry
Battle flag of Sumter Flying Artillery
captured in The battle Of Appomattox
Station, April g, 1868, by Chief Buglel
Chas. Shorn, lst Virginia Veteran Vol.
unter Cavalry, 81 brigade, Sd cavalry
division, Gen. Custer commanding
Battle flag of the Sumter Heavy Artil.
lcry, captured in tho battle of Sailors
Creek, April 6, 1865, by Sergt George
J. Pitman, Company @, 1st New York
Lincoln Volunteer Cavalry, 3D. brigade,
Sd division, Gen. Custer commanding.
Garrison flag, "Secessionville," James
Island, S. c., defences of Charleston,
captured February, 1865. Presented to
the war department by Brig. Gen A.
Schimmelpfennig.
Garrison flag, "Fort NIoultric, "
Charleston harbor, captured February
IL, 1860. Presented to the war depart
mcnt by Brig. Gen. a. Schimmolpfenuig.
Garrison ilng Of the Citadclof Charles
ton, 5. c., captured February Is, 1865
Presented to the war department by
Brig. Gen. a. SchimmelpEennig.
The Presidents Action.
WASuINGToN, June l6.-The following
letter was sent to the Secretary Of War
by the President to day in regard to the
disposition of flags captured by the
Union forces during the late war:
l have to-day considered with moro
care than when the subject was orally
presented to me the action of your de-
mrtment directing letters to be addressed
to the Governors of all the States, oilcr-
ing TO return, if desired, 70 the ioval
States OF the Union the flags captured
during the war of the rebellion by the
Confederate forces and afterwards re-
covered by government troops, and to
the Confederate States the flags captured
by the Union forces, all of which, for
many years, have been packed in boxes
and stored in the cellar and attic of the
War Department. | am of the opinion
that the return OF the flags in the man
nef thus contemplated is not authorized
by existing law, nor justified as an OK
ecutiYe act. | request, therefore, that
no further steps be takon in the matter,
except TO examine and inventory these
| Tugs and adopt proper measures for
the iiuat disposition OF thcm should
origlAatc with Congress. Yours truly,
GROVER CLEvELAND.
At the request Of Governor Foraker,
OF Ohio, that counsel should be retained
to institute legal proceedings to cujoin
the return of the Confederate flags to the
| Governors OF the Southern States, Gen.
ii. V. BoyptOn to-day selected Samuel
Shellabarger, of Ohio, and George S.
| Routwcll, OF Massachusetts, to take
charge Of the case. These gentlemen cX-
pccted to have nm application for man
damns filed in the Supreme Court Of the
district Mt | O'Clock this afternoon, but
We're delayed by the nonrcccipt Of the
necessary telegram from Ohio. The
/ papers were based upon the claim that
the Secretary of War was about to dis
! pose OF public property without puthori-
| ty of law. The letter of the President,
however, made further action by the
attorneys unnecessary.
Gen. ! ;rchild Raves.
WASHSGToN, June IL. AT a rccep' ion
| to Glen. Fuirchild, commandcr.in chief
q. a. r., in New York, last night, ten
dercd by the Alexander Hamilton Post,
| tGrchild delivered an impassioncd
speech upon the proposed return to the
Southern States OF the flags captured in
the late war. He spoke undSr strong
excitement, and almost his first utterauco
| was:
"May God palsy the hand that wrote
the order, may God palsy the brain that
conceived it, and may God palsy tho
tonguo that dictated it,"
In the course of his speech Fairchid
said:
"Sinco about 1867 the G. A. r., has
been the friend OF the South, we have no
sort OF hate or malice against our old
foes anywhere and are ready to extend
them the right hand of fellowship. Not
withstanding all this [ most emphatical-
| ly assert that tho Southern States have
no manner OF rigat to take from us the
relics of tho late rebellion in tho shape
of Rebel flags. What would Missouri,
| Maryland, MissiSsippia South Carolina
and other States do with the flags if they
had thom? Would the Governors OF
these States place them i'll their State
capitals rs cmblcms to be- reycrcd and
to teach coming generations treason?
No loyal Governor of any State in this
Union will receive them. They will say
'These are relics af dead past. We are
members of the Union of States and can
not receive these emblems of treason.
Fairchild concluded by stating that he
spoke III defence OF tho Southern peo-
pie, whom he felt sure would feel in
suited by having those flags thrust upon
them.
After Fairchild's address, resolutions
were adopted MS follows:
"Ilat the President OF the United
States, having approved there commend.
alton that all battle flags in the custody
OF the war department belonging to
Southern States in rebellion during the
late civil war be returned to the respec.
tive States which bore them, for such
final disposition as they may determine,
this post views with surprise the action
of tho President, and records its protest
thereto; that the sacrifice of blood which
captured the emblems referred to was
sacrifice to liberty, national union and
to God; that no sentiment of generosity
and no expression OF magnanimity is in.
- L 4 - 4 \ Al